How Enzo Maresca has been described by Qarabag hero Leandro Andrade after Champions League encounter

Qarabag star Leandro Andrade has given his verdict on Enzo Maresca following his side’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Wednesday.

Andrade had a leading role in the Champions League encounter, scoring Qarabag’s equaliser after Estevao Willian had given Chelsea the lead.

Estevao’s end product has been good for an 18-year-old, something that was clear to see in Azerbaijan.

However, his goal was cancelled out by Andrade before Marko Jankovic netted to put Qarabag in front. Alejandro Garnacho was able to spoil the party for Gurban Gurbanov’s side, though, after scoring in the second half to make it 2-2.

Leandro Andrade thinks Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is a ‘superb coach’

Maresca put out a very young team against Qarabag and it backfired. Nevertheless, Andrade still thinks that the 45-year-old is a top manager.

Speaking to TNT Sports after his side’s draw with Chelsea, he said: “I could say we were a bit disappointed; we wanted more, but it’s Chelsea. They’re champions of the world. They have a superb coach, so I would say a point was not bad. It was all right.”

Maresca’s credentials are really being put to the test in the Champions League this season. Before the Qarabag tie, Chelsea scraped past Benfica and lost to Bayern Munich.

They were able to beat Ajax convincingly, winning that match 5-1, but their draw with Qarabag leaves them 12th in the league phase table.

Their next test is likely to be even more difficult, with Barcelona making the trip to Stamford Bridge towards the end of the month.

Why Enzo Maresca is a superb coach

Despite a disappointing result in Baku, Maresca is indeed a superb coach. Over the past two years, he has done extremely well in the dugout.

Last season, the 45-year-old got Chelsea back into the Champions League, while he also led them to glory in the Club World Cup and Conference League. The campaign before that, Maresca also won promotion to the Premier League with Leicester City.

His tactics are also very modern and effective. Jamie Carragher recently praised Maresca for the way he was able to rotate his players’ positions in-game in their 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Qarabag match was a setback, but Maresca is definitely one of the best coaches in football right now.

Click here to read article